Michael Forshaw (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is directed to Senator Johnston, the Minister for Justice and Customs. Can the minister confirm that the Australian Federal Police are now paying $5 million a year in rent for new premises at Anzac Park West that they cannot move into? Does the minister know how long this bizarre arrangement will continue? Does it not follow reports last month that the government spent $70 million on refurbishments to the Anzac Park West building before realising that it would be too small for its new AFP tenants? Didn’t the government also pay $6 million to rent empty units it could not use in Port Moresby? Why does the government continue to spend millions of dollars of public money in rent for buildings for the Australian Federal Police that they cannot use?